Diuza 25mg Tablets

Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic, often called a water tablet. It helps your kidneys remove extra salt and water from your body through your urine.

It is used to:

• treat high blood pressure, on its own or with other blood pressure medicines
• reduce swelling (oedema) caused by too much fluid in the body, for example from heart, liver or kidney disease

It controls blood pressure but does not cure it, so most people need to keep taking it.

Take it exactly as your doctor or pharmacist tells you. Do not change how much you take or when you take it without advice.

• Keep taking it even if you feel well. Do not stop without talking to your doctor.
• If you miss a dose, take it when you remember. If it is nearly time for the next one, skip the missed dose. Never take a double dose.
• If you also take cholestyramine or colestipol, ask your pharmacist how to space the doses apart.
• Follow any diet advice you are given, such as eating less salt or more potassium-rich foods.
• Go to your blood pressure checks and blood tests as planned.

Common side effects include:

• passing urine more often
• diarrhoea or loss of appetite
• headache
• hair loss

Tell your doctor if these are severe or do not go away.

Get medical help straight away if you have:

• signs of losing too much water or salts, such as a very dry mouth, strong thirst, feeling or being sick, weakness, drowsiness, confusion, muscle pain or cramps, or a fast heartbeat
• a rash, hives, itching, or blistering or peeling skin
• trouble breathing or swallowing
• fever, sore throat or other signs of infection, or unusual bleeding or bruising
• tummy pain that may spread to the back
• joint pain or swelling
• changes in your eyesight, or eye pain, redness or swelling

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you:

• are allergic to it, to sulfa (sulphonamide) medicines or to any other medicine
• have kidney, liver or heart problems
• have diabetes, gout, asthma, lupus or high cholesterol
• take anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen or naproxen, or any other medicines, vitamins or herbal products

Tell any doctor or lab staff that you take it before you have tests.

Keep it in its original, tightly closed container at room temperature, away from heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Do not let it freeze, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding: tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Sun and skin: it can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and may raise the risk of skin cancer. Limit time in the sun, use sun protection and report any new skin changes.

Dizziness and alcohol: you may feel dizzy or faint when you stand up quickly. Get up slowly. Alcohol can make this worse.